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Stephen R. Clark, CleverSmith™ Writing

#Writer #Christian #Introvert

Oreland, PA

Writing • Editing
Editorial Project Management
Communications

Serving businesses, non-profits, higher ed, faith-based organizations, and individuals

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"You'll always have a job here,

                because you can write."

Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist William Raspberry is oft-quoted as saying, "Good English, well spoken and well written will open more doors than a college degree. Bad English, poorly spoken and poorly written, will slam doors that you don't even know exist."

A few years back, I worked for AT&T.

How I got there is an amazing story in itself. But I bring it up here to make a simple point: Writing well is a valued talent not everyone possesses.

After being at AT&T about eight years, a buy-out offer came along and I decided to take it.

My boss at the time, Dan Allen*, son of then-CEO Bob Allen* (who happened to grow up in my hometown), did his best to talk me out of leaving.

Dan assured me that I could have a job within AT&T as long as I wanted.

"How do you figure that?" I asked, with not a little skepticism given that downsizings had been constants for those eight years.

"Simple," he replied matter-of-factly. "You know how to write."

As Dan and others have explained to me over the years, not only can I write well, but I'm also able to take technical material and make it clear to a non-technical reader.

I've done this with telecommunications (AT&T), aerospace (Rolls Royce), finance (Sallie Mae), higher education (several universities), and for faith-based organizations.

Writing well is a skill most don't possess.

Sadly, many believe because they know the alphabet, have word processing software that automatically checks grammar and spelling, and that they squeaked through English 101 in college that they can write. And do so with clarity.

But many examples of poor and confused writing can be spotted in memos, reports, contracts, on websites, and even in newspapers.

Bad writing abounds. Why? Because writing well takes skill, talent, and effort.

It takes great writing to accurately deliver your vital message.

Good writing involves more than merely placing one word after another and then using spell-check.

Journalist and author Gene Fowler opined, "Writing is easy; all you do is sit staring at the blank sheet of paper until the drops of blood form on your forehead."

Call it content or copy, it's all writing.

If the writing's bad, then your message is lost. People will click away from your website or toss your materials in the trash.

Good writing is writing the reader wants to read. It delivers the intended message by drawing the reader in.

Good writing enlightens and excites the mind of the reader, making your product, service, or idea memorable and desirable.

Simply put, like a good cup of coffee, writing should wake people up, not put them to sleep.

When you need writing that is clear and makes an impact, let me sweat blood for you.

Based in Oreland, Pennsylvania, Stephen R. Clark, CleverSmith™ Writing, will create sparkling text that tantalizes, attracts, and energizes; writing that satisfies in an informative and entertaining way.

Whether for print or online, when you need carefully crafted writing that is sure to get your message across, contact me at Stephen@CleverSmith.com.

I'll deliver writing that un-blands your news release, technical material, article, web pages, brochure, book, newsletter, marketing collateral – all things written.

Don't settle for boring when you can have brilliant.

Allow me to develop the clear, concise, and compelling copy you need.

Contact CleverSmith™ Writing today!

Click here to learn about my background & experience. >>

* It was with great sadness that I learned of Bob's passing and in the same article learned that Dan had died a year earlier from Alzheimer's. They were both good men.

smith
>> One who makes or works at something specific. Often used in combination: A wordsmith (a fluent and prolific writer, especially one who writes professionally; an expert with words.)

What others say about Stephen:

"We have built a relationship based on mutual respect for the other's skills, talents, interests, styles, and expertise. As a result, he is comfortable in suggesting new thoughts to me or recommending changes in the way I was thinking to result in a better product."